Entertainment
TV3 Mentor 2020:The stage craft, bravado and western invasion
The just ended 2020 TV3 Mentor, organised by Media General, which was held on Sunday December 27, at the studio ‘B’ made me appreciate the need for such shows to help unearth a lot of music talents.
This year’s event commenced with an audition on Monday, August 31 2020, which was followed with the selection of 16 contestants to battle it out for 13 weeks.
The search of the brand new car and two mastered songs, GH¢50,000 worth of airtime across Media General platforms, as the prize package for the ultimate winner became keen week after week.
At the end of this journey, a first-year student of the Half Assini Senior High School, Kweku Bany, emerged as the winner, by ‘wrestling’ the coveted crown from the three other finalists.
Ayeyi walked away with a GH¢10,000 cash prize, a record deal and GH¢40,000 worth of airtime across all Media General platforms.
Second runner-up Semenhyia received GH¢8,000 cash, GH¢30,000 worth of airtime across Media General platforms and record deal.
Netty, who came all the way from the Northern Zone, had GH¢5,000 cash, GH¢20,000 worth of airtime across all Media General platforms, a record deal for placing fourth.
Judges
These contestants were under the able tutelage of music producer Appiah Dankwah, popularly known as Apietus, who was in charge of the South Eastern zone, veteran musician Bessa Simons was in charge of the Middle zone and musicians Adina Thembi and Edem also in charge of South Western and Northern zones respectively.
One thing I observed was that the contestants played their game to the theme of the event “Own the stage.”
And there was no denying the fact that the judges who served as mentors for contestants played a vital role in the growth of the artistes right from the onset, laced with their encouraging and thought-provoking critique of their performances.
There were times, the judges clashed over these contestants to get the best out of them.
There were the ‘unseen’ moments where the judges took the contestants through rudiments of music and stage artistry to make them ready to perform to the general public on Sundays.
Contestants
For an artiste to be able to breakthrough the music barriers and become a household name in both his country and other parts of the world, costuming, stagecraft, and confidence on stage must be topnotch.
One of the things the contestants did not take for granted was their costuming. Their sense for the right costume which corresponded with their their choice of song and stage craft, proved their seriousness for the global music market.
Like the tag-line suggested, ‘Own The Stage’, these contestants on the stage kept their composure and controlled the affairs with amazing commanding bravado tied with an intermittent call and respond, which got the patrons in a ecstatic mood.
The use of right prop made the performances lit and enthralled the audience.
Western invasion
Interestingly, this year’s edition had about four Westerners, Kweku Bany, Ayeyi, Semenhyia and Hyndu out of the 16 contestants brace
all odds to make it to the final six.
This did not end there, as Kweku Bany, Ayeyi and Semenhyia came up as first, second and third respectively, through their dexterity and showmanship.
In recent past, contestants from the Western part of the country have caught the eyes of the public with their excellent delivery on the platform.
Future
Such reality shows serve as platforms to groom talents for the next generation of musicians in the country. They take these budding artistes through a lot of training to ensure they meet the demands of the global music market.
For this reason, they should be given the needed support to stand the test of time.
Kudos to Media General for such resilience in running the show for these years.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
THE president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Mr Bessa Simon has described criticism against a donation made to the family of the legendary Yaw Sarpong as misleading and a means to tarnish their image.
According to him, GH¢500 donated to the family during one week observance wasn’t the final funeral contribution but a symbolic amount to help with refreshment during the one week observance.
• Yaw Sarpong
He told the Spectator Agoro that the Union will make a formal donation at the funeral to the icon in the gospel industry.
“Giving an amount at one week is a common practice and shouldn’t overshadow Yaw Sarpongs legacy” he added
Meanwhile others praised MUSIGA for showing solidarity, others condemned the amount, describing it as inadequate and disrespectful to the legacy of the veteran singer.
Yaw Sarpong, born in Accra, emerged as one of Ghana’s most influential gospel musicians and a defining voice in contemporary Christian music across West Africa.
Rising from humble beginnings and shaped by the political and social turbulence of post-independence Ghana, he transformed gospel music with a distinctive blend of spiritual depth, lyrical clarity, and disciplined musical arrangement.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah, Ghana’s celebrated child prodigy and youngest achiever ever recorded in the Guinness World Records’ 70-year history is set to captivate audiences at the upcoming Ghana Independence Day celebrations in Beijing, China.
The Ghana Embassy in the People’s Republic of China will host series of events culminating on March 6, 2026, to mark Ghana’s 69th Independence Anniversary, with Ace Liam’s artwork prominently featured.
As part of the Embassy’s cultural initiatives, an art exhibition will showcase creative works by top Ghanaian artists including Ace Liam and renowned artist Ibrahim Mahama.
The exhibition aims to celebrate Ghana’s vibrant cultural heritage and foster closer cultural ties between Ghana and China.
At just 3 years old, Ace-Liam has earned acclaim for his innovative artistic talents. His participation in the Independence Day events highlights the role of young Ghanaian artists in promoting the country’s rich culture on a global stage.
Ambassador Kojo Bonsu, during a press soiree held on February 5, 2026, emphasised Ghana’s commitment to deepening its relationship with China through cultural exchange and economic collaboration.
The planned events will also include a business forum and a fashion show by Nineteen57, blending traditional and modern Ghanaian styles.
This will be Ace-Liam’s second international art exhibition after his debut in Barbados at the GUBA Awards.
In 2025, he received an award at the UK Parliament House of Commons as a Global Child Prodigy in Arts. He was also awarded the Kid Creator of the Year at the Creators Awards Ghana 2025.
In a related development, Ace-Liam Ankrah has been recognised as a Young Achiever in the Guinness World Records Book 2026 edition, becoming the youngest achiever in the organisation’s 70-year history.
Featured in the special anniversary edition marking seven decades of global excellence, Ace-Liam joins a distinguished group of record holders and global icons such as Simone Biles, Usain Bolt, and Dolly Parton. His achievements have made a lasting impact worldwide, capturing international attention through the extraordinary power of early childhood creativity.
This latest recognition by Guinness World Records marks a defining milestone not only for Ace-Liam, but also for Ghana and the African creative community. It highlights the importance of nurturing creativity from an early age and demonstrates the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when talent is supported and allowed to flourish.
Reacting to this news, Ace-Liam’s Mother/Manager Chantelle Kuukua Eghan remarked, ‘Ace-Liam being featured in the 2026 Guinness World Records Book as a Young Achiever is a dream come true. I feel blessed and super excited to be his mother. This is not just a win for him, but a win for all kids in the world.’’
Ace-Liam’s artistic journey began at just six months old when his mother, Ghanaian visual artist Chantelle Kuukua, laid out a canvas and paints to keep him engaged while she worked on a commissioned piece.
What began as a simple moment of curiosity quickly revealed something remarkable. Within minutes, he created his first artwork, later titled The Crawl, a vibrant expression that marked the beginning of an exceptional creative path.
Edem Mensah –Tsotorme
